A team-mate of Bermudian striker Kyle Lightbourne had to be rushed to hospital after being shot by masked assailants.

Chris Byrne, a 27-year-old midfielder with Macclesfield Town, was wounded on Thursday evening in a Manchester alleyway, police said.

The motive and circumstances of the shooting were not immediately known, but police said a group of men wearing ski masks were seen near the scene.

Byrne was being treated yesterday for serious leg injuries.

"It's not life threatening, but he's had a very serious gunshot wound," Macclesfield manager David Moss said.

Moss said the shooting did not come as a complete surprise.

"I know the type of company that Chris surrounds himself with on occasion," he said. "It's not to my liking, but you can't nurse him for 24 hours a day. You expect players to look after themselves when they leave the training ground."

Moss suggested that Byrne's future with the club could be in jeopardy.

"For a professional footballer to get embroiled in that kind of thing can have serious repercussions," he said.

Byrne began his career at Macclesfield before spells at Sunderland and Stockport County. He rejoined Macclesfield in June 2001.

Lightbourne is in the Macclesfield squad which travels to Swansea today.